Chapter XIII. The Seaside

           DIAMONDandhismothersatdownupontheedgeoftheroughgrassthatborderedthesand.Thesunwasjustfarenoughpastitshighestnottoshineintheireyeswhentheylookedeastward.Asweetlittlewindblewontheirleftside,andcomfortedthemotherwithoutlettingherknowwhatitwasthatcomfortedher.Awaybeforethemstretchedthesparklingwatersoftheocean,everywaveofwhichflashedoutitsowndelightbackinthefaceofthegreatsun,whichlookeddownfromthestillnessofitsbluehousewithglorioussilentfaceuponitsflashingchildren.Oneachhandtheshoreroundedoutwards,formingalittlebay.Therewerenowhitecliffshere,asfurthernorthandsouth,andtheplacewasratherdreary,buttheskygotatthemsomuchthebetter.Notahouse,notacreaturewaswithinsight.Drysandwasabouttheirfeet,andunderthemthinwirygrass,thatjustmanagedtogrowoutofthepoverty-strickenshore.

           “Ohdear!”saidDiamond’smother,withadeepsigh,“it’sasadworld!”

           “Isit?”saidDiamond.“Ididn’tknow.”

           “Howshouldyouknow,child?You’vebeentoowelltakencareof,Itrust.”

           “Ohyes,Ihave,”returnedDiamond.“I’msorry!Ithoughtyouweretakencareoftoo.Ithoughtmyfathertookcareofyou.Iwillaskhimaboutit.Ithinkhemusthaveforgotten.”

           “Dearboy!”saidhismother,“yourfather’sthebestmanintheworld.”

           “SoIthought!”returnedDiamondwithtriumph.“Iwassureofit!—Well,doesn’thetakeverygoodcareofyou?”

           “Yes,yes,hedoes,”answeredhismother,burstingintotears.